Tori visits the pool.

Padman had just wiped his eyes as another wave splashed against his face. He laughed and tasted the chlorine on his teeth.

Gary was about to throw another one but stopped. He heard a “click clack, click clack” and turned to look.

“What has ol' Uncle Mike got himself into now,” he said.

He saw Tori at the steps to his uncle's apartment. She wore a striped v-neck tee, a low rise denim mini, and some killer 3-inch heels.

'Oh, what a hottie!' He thought.

She was having trouble in the heels. And Gary had a good laugh.

At the bottom of the steps, frustrated, she leaned against the rail and pulled them off her feet.

Suddenly, Gary was hit in the face by one of Padman's waves. Padman laughed like a hyena and pointed.

But Gary kept his eyes on the girl, waving Padman off as though he were swatting away a fly.

“Hellooo! Come have a swim! Hahaha!” Padman said.

“Shu—”

“Hey guys, do you, umm...”

Tori pointed behind and over the top of her head. Her other hand held the heels. “Do you guys know who lives there—up there?”

“Yeah.” Gary said, “what you need?”

“I'm s'posed to see the guy—?”

Tori dropped the heels. They landed with an echoey “clack!” Then she plopped down poolside and sunk her feet in the water. Her strawberry-painted toenails danced in the water. Tiny waves streamed toward Gary and Padman at the other end.

“You try the door?” Gary said.

“Huh?”

“He never locks it. Probably wanted you to wait inside.”

“Oh, so, like—you know him or something?”

“Yeah. Come on. I'll show you.”

The water crashed as Gary pushed himself out of the pool.

“Wait.” Tori said, but he ignored her.

He walked behind and then past Tori and up the steps to his uncle's apartment.

Tori sighed at Padman, who sat there wide-eyed and shook his head. To Tori it felt like a warning.